BEHIND THE VEIL

08.22.09

Red Cross Allowed To Track Detainees

The International Committee of the Red Cross will now know the identities of prisoners kept in secret in Iraq and Afghanistan camps, in a reversal of the Pentagon's policy. The move will begin to dispel some of the secrecy surrounding the government's remaining overseas prisons. The Red Cross has been fighting for access to the information, but the military previously said disclosing prisoners' names would tip off other insurgents. The New York Times reported in 2006 that in one detention camp in Iraq, prisoners were used for "target practice" in jailer paintball games. The military says conditions have improved since then. About 30 to 40 prisoners have been held in the Iraq camp at one time, and there are fewer prisoners in the Afghanistan camp, officials said. The Red Cross has been allowed to track the prisoners since last month, though no formal announcement was made of the decision.